X-rays are a type of electromagnetic radiation with very short wavelengths (about 0.01 to 10 nanometers) and high energy. Because of their short wavelength, they can penetrate many materials that visible light cannot, which makes them especially useful for imaging the inside of objects, including the human body.
Key points about X-rays:
- Nature: Form of electromagnetic waves, like visible light or radio waves, but with much higher energy.
- Discovery: Found by Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen in 1895 while experimenting with cathode rays.
- Penetration ability: Can pass through soft tissues (skin, muscles) but are absorbed more by dense materials (bones, metals).
- Uses:
- Medical imaging – X-ray radiography, CT scans, dental imaging.
- Security – baggage scanning at airports.
- Industrial – detecting flaws in materials or welds.
- Production: Generated when high-energy electrons strike a metal target in an X-ray tube, releasing photons in the X-ray spectrum.
- Safety: Prolonged or high-dose exposure can damage living tissue and increase cancer risk, so protective measures (lead aprons, minimal exposure) are important.
In short, X-rays are invisible, high-energy light waves that let us “see through” certain materials, making them powerful but needing careful handling.